INTRODUCTION: There is currently an increasing use of biological agents in the management of Crohn's disease (CD). There is lack of data regarding the epidemiological profile of patients on infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) for CD in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of patients with CD who underwent biological therapy. METHOD: Retrospective multicenter study, with CD patients on biological therapy. Analyzed variables: gender, age at treatment initiation, Montreal classification, concomitant perianal disease and smoking status. RESULTS: 175 patients without previous exposure to biological agents were included, 93 (53%) were male. The mean age at treatment initiation was 35.5 (2-79) years old an the mean disease duration was 46.9 (0-480) months. Overall, 117 (66.9%) patients used IFX and 58 (33.1%), ADA. Montreal classification: age at diagnosis ― A1 (n=21; 12%), A2 (n=102; 58.3%), and A3 (n=52; 29.7%). CD location ― L1 (n=42; 24%), L2 (n=51; 29.1%), L3 (n=81; 46.3%), and L4 (n=1, 0.6%). Phenotype ―B1 (n=59; 33.7%), B2 (n=46; 26.3%), and B3 (n=70; 40%). Perianal disease was found in 89 (50.9%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological profile of patients was similar to the literature. There was a high prevalence of patients with fistulizing CD.
Crohn's disease; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; epidemiology
